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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Top Ten Books I Thought I'd Like MORE/LESS Than I Did

Welcome to another Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week it's all in the expectations. I LOVE it when I read a book and I go "OMG WHY DIDN'T I READ THIS SOONER IT IS AMAZING!" and then I get real sad when I read a book and go "Oh, that's it...meh." SO here are my Top Ten Book I Thought I Would Like More or Less :)

Go Big or Go Home

1. The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa--I've said this a few times...I am not a faery person. The thought of an entire series devoted to the fey did not sound appealing. BUT after many well-read favorites of my said I HAVE to read it, you'll love it even if you don't like faeries, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. LOVE this series! Ash and Meghan, I just die for.

2. Mistress to the Crown by Isolde Martyn--I am a HUGE Elizabeth Woodville fan and Mistress to the Crown is about her husband, Edward IV, most infamous mistress. So I was SO surprised when I found myself really enjoying reading about her and rooting for her. So weird, but I LOVED it.

3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte--I read this a few years ago because it is an infamous classic and I felt like an idiot saying I've never read it. Book is super long and super old and I thought I was going to trudge my way through it...so.not.the.case. I ADORED this book. I read it in like 3 days on a week that I worked so you KNOW it's good if I can do that. I love the story, the language, the plot, the love, oh I just loved it all! So not thinking that would be the case when I started it.

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--I know this is going to sound crazy but I was hearing about this book forever and it kept popping up on random stuff I would look at (this was before I started blogging) and going into it I thought it would be good...I didn't think it was going to change my life...and it did. This book is one of those books that will stay with me FOREVER and I will ALWAYS recommend. It just spoke to me and I never thought it would affect me as much as it did.

5. The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson--I read the Girl of Fire and Thorns and really liked it. It wasn't life-changing to me or anything but I did really enjoy it...then I read the Crown of Embers and holy wow. BLOWN AWAY! Like so much in love I cannot talk ENOUGH about Hector and Elisa. I am DYING in anticipation of the last book. Like heart attack. LOVE LOVE LOVE! SO unexpected from a sequel. Love love love.

1. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire--Holy hell, I don't say this a lot, especially now that I blog and I am putting this in print on the internet for anyone to see but I HATED this book. Fury-inducing, rage status, could not STAND this book. It is SO incredibly offensive to women and highlights abusive relationships as something to aim for. No, just no. I can't. And so many of my friends like this book, it just doesn't sit well with me. Sorry not sorry.

2. Lord of the Flies by William Goudling--Meh. When I read this book, by choice because I never read it in high school, I was really anticipating a profound look into the human psyche...and what I got wasn't surprising. How awful humans can be to one another is not new or enlightening to me. Sticking a bunch of teenage boys on a deserted island...and you expect them to play nice? Of course, they're going to turn on each other and start killing each other. This doesn't surprise me. Maybe I'm too jaded but whatever. AND the book's writing is confusing as hell. Whatca talkin' about Will? Cuz I have no idea. Not a fan.

3. The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa--Now this is nowhere NEAR the previous two books I mentioned but I was disappointed after reading it and this one I will blame on myself. I had really high expectations for it so when it only turned out to be good rather than REALLY good, I was a little let down. BUT the sequel TOTALLY makes up for the first one. And I know a lot of people LOVE this book but it was just middle of the road good.

4. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe--Again, high expectations. Let me down. This book just didn't really do it for me either. Started out great. Loved the medical aspect but the books they read together I had NEVER heard of or was even remotely interested in so I couldn't really connect. I was sad because I reeeeeally wanted to like it...just didn't. Meh.

5. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain--Another one I really looked forward to reading and all I got out of it was Hadley was a total pushover and Hemingway is an asshole. End of story. But for real, I wanted to like this and it just didn't interest me as much as I thought it would.

I didn't expect to love the Iron Fey books as much as I did, either! And I only read the Book Thief because of all the reviews I read that said it was absolutely incredible (which it was); it's not something I ever would have read on my own. I have very mixed feelings about Beautiful Disaster...I kind of liked it (don't hate me) but at the same time I recognize all the issues it had. Nice list!

I've HEARD Crown of Embers is better than Girl of and Thorns, so to say I'm EXCITED to finally get to this series would be an understatement.

Also, I'm really glad The Book Thief impacted you like that!! I know a lot of people are hesitant to read it or end up DNF it because the writing style/voice is so different that they can't really get into it. Personally, it took me a while to get through but I loved the writing style so much that I pushed myself. Totally worth it!

Beautiful Disaster is one of those is a hit or miss book. For me, it's on the border. I can see the issues at hand, etc, but at the same time didn't put much stock into it when I read it. The Book Thief is one I keep seeing and I'm still not sure if I want to pick it up.

Ahhhh, The Book Thief. Like you said, I was not expecting how much impact it would have on me, and it definitely will stay with me forever. And um, you made me nervous about The Immortal Rules hahaha. I hope I'll like it more than you did. Then again, I like the sound of the sequel :) Maybe I should pick it up anyway.

all i can do is LOL.... you killed me at Lord of the Flies. hhahhaha Mr. Betty wasn't forced to read this in high school and i am constantly referring to piggy and he just doesn't get it. i need to purchase this book and force him to read it. i know this really has nothing to do with your list, but well.... i blame you for bringing it up. maybe we can rent the movie at BEA?? hahhaha

on a serious note... i'd like to check out Iron Fey and The Book Thief!!

I'm not a faery person either and have always shied away from that series, but maybe I'll give it a try. Luckily I've never picked up Beautiful Disaster, but I've read enough about it to know that it is not the book for me. Here's my TTT

Gosh, you made me laugh with this post, brilliant! Just what I needed. I won't be adding The Paris Wife to my reading list then, I think I shall replace it with 'Farewell Dorothy Parker' which seems to be going great guns at the moment. I love Rae Carson, she is awesome. Beautiful Disaster was not a winner with me either, but don't let it put you off New Adult novels completely, there's been some good ones out lately (e.g. Slammed, Wait For You).

I have a hard time with fey books, too, which is why I haven't read The Iron Fey series. But maybe I should give it a try.

I didn't mind Beautiful Disaster - not that it was a favorite or anything. I mean, pretty much the whole time I was thinking Abby and Travis are CRAZY! But at the same time I did have a hard time putting the book down.

I still have to read Jane Eyre AND The Book Thief. Yes, I'm failing at life, I know. I totally JUST downloaded The Book Thief on audio so hopefully I get to it soon. :) Also... I 100% agree with you about The Immortal Rules. I was so disappointed I almost didn't continue the series but Eternity Cure sure made up for it. Great list!My Top Ten Tuesday!

The book thief <3 Just pure love and perfection. I want to force everybody to read it. If I got to chance to be ruler of the world, this would be my number 1! I can't wait to read Crown of Embers after loving The girl of fire and thorns.

I was actually a little disappointed in The Iron Fey. I liked it, but not really enough to continue the series. Though I'm right there with you on The Book Thief.

I've seen Beautiful Disaster on the bad side of so many of these lists, it only reinforces my vow to never lay a finger on a copy. I really like the reasons you listed for not liking The Lord Of The Flies. I did read it in school so we analyzed it a bit more, which I think is the only reason I liked it a bit. Had I read it on my own, I doubt I'd have been impressed.

I have Immortal Rules high on my TBR list, so I'm kind of bummed to see that you were disappointed by it, but glad that the sequel gets better!

20-something girl with a passion for reading, traveling, love, and life in general. In love with words and the stories they tell. Sicilian and not afraid to show it. Wicked case of wanderlust. Queen in my own right.

VIP- I’m addicted and is an instant favorite. PUSH THE TBR PILE OVER AND PICK UP THIS BOOK!Backstage Pass - I LOVED it! Definitely add this to your TBR list!Reserved Seating - I really, really liked it! Add this to your TBR list but don’t push over the pile to read it. General Admission- I liked it. These books I would recommend to people who either like the genre or idea of the story but not to everyone.Standing In Line Outside - Meh, it was okay. I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m sure some people might enjoy it but I didn’t.Denied At The Door - Nope, did not like this. Do not recommend. Keep far away from your TBR pile.